William Hill sees revenue growth but results favour its clients

DOMINIC JEFF

Bookie William Hill continued to benefit from a boom in betting from mobile phones over the summer, but its margins suffered as punters enjoyed a good run.

The group said its online Sportsbook offering saw a 42 per cent increase in amounts wagered in the 13 weeks to October, with football Sportsbook betting up 49 per cent and mobile wagering using the service up 115 per cent.

Its net revenue from mobile gaming increased 126 per cent, compared to a 27 per cent increase in the amounts staked on football matches by the firm’s retail customers.

However, it will not all filter down to the bottom line.

Chief executive Ralph Topping said: “During this quarter, results were not as favourable as in the comparable period, with outcomes - particularly in football - going the punters’ way. Consequently, gross win margins are below the prior year in both major channels, and below normalised expectations in Sportsbook. It is of course important in our business to look through the impact of short-term results on trading.”